Fuel-oil burner



April 20, 1926. 1,581,354

L. L LEAVELL.

FUE L OIL BURNER Filed TCh l9 I INVENTOR. 122541012 1; Jedi E12.

ATTORNEYS.

Patented Apr. 20, 1926.

warren STATES PATENT orifice- LIVINGSTON L. LEAVELL, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO,ASSIGNOR TO ORB ENGINEERING CORPORATION OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ACORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

FUEL-OIL BURNER.

Application filed March 19, 1925. Serial No. 16,637.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LIVINGSTON L. LEAVELL, a citizen of the UnitedStates, and a resident of Cleveland, county of Cuyahoga, new and usefulImprovement in Fuel-Oil Burners, of which the following is aspecification, the principle of the invention being herein explained andthe best mode in which I have contemplated applying that principle, soas to distinguish it from other inventions.

This invention, as has been indicated, nolates to an improved fuel oilburner. More particularly it comprises a burner particularly adapted foratomizing and vaporlzing the liquid fuel preliminary to combustion.

In oil burners, as in many instances heretofore constructed, atomizedfuel particles are projected from nozzles, or'when vaporization upon aheated surface is made use of, no atomizing effect is produced, and saiddevices do not operate at maximum efficiency.

'The principal object of the present invention is to improve theconstruction of fuel oil burners. A further object is to provide aburner which will be simple to construct, effective in operation and onewhich is not subject to rapid deterioration under contitions of severeservice. Another object of the. invention is to provide a fuel oilburner which will be automatic in its operation and will direct thedraft ascending through a central orifice over a heated inclined surfaceover which liquid fuel is sprayed, becoming atomized and vaporizedpreliminary to complete combustion. Another object of the invention isto provide a safety marginal zone about the circumference of the burnerto absorb excess liquid fuel at times when the burner is shut off andalso to prevent the sudden snapping-out of the flame.- Other objectswill appear in the course of the following description. To theaccomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, said invention, then,consists of the means herein after fully described and particularlypointed out in the claims.

The annexed drawing and the following description set forth in detailcertain structure embodying the invention, such disand State of Ohio,have invented a closed means constituting, however, but one of variousstructural forms in which the principle of the invention may be used.

In said annexed drawing Fig. 1 atop plan view'of one form of theimproved burner, and Fig. 2 is a vertical central view partially insectionof the burner taken along the line 2 2 shown in Fig. 1.

As is clearly shown in the drawing the burner comprises a shell 1 havinga substantially flat circumferential portion and a frusto-conicalcentral portion 2 surrounding a central opening 3 through which thedraft for the burner is to be supplied. A cover or baffle plate 1 ofdome-like shape is centrally supported, in a manner hereinafter to bedescribed, with its marginal portions 5 slightly overhanging and inspaced rela tion to the upper edge of the inclined portion of saidburner. Said cover is preferably supported, as shown in Fig. 2, inadjustable relation to the upper edge of said burner by means of anadjusting screw 6 having its squared head 7 engaged within a recess 8formed in the under side of said cover, and having its screw-threadedshank engaged within a screw-threaded opening formed in the upper sideof a distributing unit 9 in the fuel supply line; The fuel supply line11 is brought in from a point below the burner and extends upwardlycentrally of the draft opening and through an aperture in a supportingbar 10 extend ing across the upper portion of the frustoconical member 2to the'distributing unit which is supported on said bar. A plurality ofbranches 12 having, downwardly turned nozzles'13 at their outer ends areconnected with said distributing unit. Upon the upper side of eachnozzle an air vent or nipple 14; is provided to assist in atomizing thefluid issuing from said nozzle.

It will be noted that the frusto-conical portion ofthe burner is offsetinwardly from the flat circumferential portion being connected theretoby means of a series of circular steps 15, 16. An annular shell 17,having an inwardly projecting flange 18 at its upperedge, and aconical-body portion corresponding to the frusto-conical central sectionof the burner, is adapted to have its lower edge seated upon thelowermost of said packing.

circular steps, with the inner edge of said flange positioned somewhatbelow the upper edge of the frusto-conical portion of the burner and inspaced relation to the ad a cent wall.

The space between the shell and the 111- clined portion of the burnerthus provides a hollow chamber 19 which is preferably filled withasbestos, or some similar insulating .lhe purpose of this insulation isto prevent the central air draft through the burner from having acooling effect upon the outer wall of tie shell. The outer wall of theannular shell thus provides a hot wall for the burneragainst which theliquid fuel may be vaporized prior to its combustion.

The inwardly projecting flange of the. annular shell is provided with ashallow g 'oofe upon its upper side into which the liquid emerging fromthe nozzles is received. The liquid fuel thus supplied becomes atomizedwhen it strikes the grooved edge of the shell and m'zzes with the aircurrents immediately adjacent the upper outer edge of the burnerstructure.

After the burner has been started by suitable means. such as a torch ora taper, the hot wall will become incandescent and the liquid fuel willbe vaporized through contact therewith. The flatcircumferential portionof the burner is preferably provided with two concentric rows 21, 22, ofupstanding ribs, in staggered relation to each other, and an unbrokenupstanding flange spaced from the outer row of ribs. A packing ofasbestos, or some other suitable material may be placed over the flatportion of the burner body between the inner row of ribs 21 and saidmarginal flange 23. This packing will serve to absorb any excessquantity of fuel oil escaping down the inclined side walls of the burnerand will assist in allowing the flame to gradually diminish when thefuel supply is shut off and will eliminate the explosion whichordinarily takes place asthe flame goes out. Outwardly of the marginalflange 23 just described a circumferent al gutter or groove 24; isprovided to receive any excess fuel escaping from the nozzles andforming part of a safety device which is brought into operation when theflame of the burner is extinguished prior to the liquid fuel supplybeing cut off. In such event the excess liquid fuel will flow into saidouter groove and thence will pass into an overflow pipe 25 shown at oneside of said structure which communicates with a safety cut-offmechanism of conventional form, which automatically turns a valve in thefuel supply line.

The operation of the burner will be. obvious from the description, butit should be pointed out that the redistribution of the draftfrom apoint above the burner in a downward direction adjacent the point ofdischarge of the liquid fuel supply through the several nozzles resultsin a combined atomizing and vaporizing action which is of greateffectiveness in completely consuming the fuel supply and producing ahigh degree of heat. The provision of a separate shell adjacent theupper edge of the burner with insulating material between the same andthe body of the burner insures the outer wall being constantlymaintained at a sullieient degree of temperature to satisfactorilyvaporize the liquid fuel particles brougl'it into contact therewith.

Adequate safety provision is supplied through the arrangement of a flashbase circumferentially of the burner, said base having a shallow channel81 within which insulating packing (not shown) may be provided, as wellthe outer groove or channelway for receiving an overflow of liquid fuelat a time when the flame of the burner is extinguished.

The burner as described is adapted to 0p crate with either natural draftor forced draft. lihen small domestic installations are to be made thenatural draft supplied to the furnace in which the burner is placed mayprovide adequate combustion and high efficiency of operation. Forceddraft may e used, however, where accurate control of the temperature isdesired or where a lar 'e ariation in the demands upon the heatingapparatus is to be provided for.

In industrial installations it will usually be found desirable to employforced draft supplied at a point below the central opening- 3 of theburner shell. Such draft may be from a source of any preferred type, anda fan or a steam jet may be used as desired.

Other modes of applying the principle of my i1 vention may be employedinstead of the one explained, change being made as regards the structureherein disclosed, provided the means stated by any of the followingclaims or the equivalent of such stated means be employed.

1 therefore particularly point out and distinctly claim as myinvention 1. A liquid fuel burner comprising a base having an inclinedcentral portion surrounding a central orifice, an annular shell havingan inwardly directed flange at its upper edge positioned in spacedrelation about said inclined portion of the body, and means fordischarging liquid fuel against the upper portion of said shell toatomize and vaporize the same.

2. A liquid fuel burner comprising a base having an inclined centralportion surrounding a central orifice, an annular shell having aninwardly directed flange at its upper edge positioned in'spaced relationabout said inclined portion of the body, means for discharging liquidfuel against the upper portion of said shell to atomize and vaporize thesame, and means for diverting air emerging through said central orificedownwardly against the outer face of said shell. i 3. A liquid fuelburner comprising a base having an inclined central portion surroundinga central orifice, an annular shell having an inwardly directed flangeat its upper ed 'e positioned in spaced relation to said inclinedportion of the body, a shallow groove formed in the upper face of saidflange, and means for discharging liquid fuel into said shallow grooveand against the upper portion of said shell to atomize and vaporize thesame.

i. A liquid fuel burner comprising a base having an inclined centralportion surrounding a central orifice, an annular shell having aninwardly. directed flange at its upper edge positioned in spacedrelation to said inclined portion of the body, a shallow groove formedin the upper face of said flange, means for discharging liquid fuel intosaid shallow groove and against the upper portion of said shell toatomize and vaporize the same, a central adjustable support and a domeresting freely upon said support above said central orifice having itsmarginal edges depending in spaced relation to the upper portion of saidannular shell for divertingair ascending through said central orificedownwardly about the outer surface of said shell.

A liquid fuel burner comprising a base having a fiat outer portion andan inclined annular shell positioned centrally thereof, a grooved upperedge provided about said shell, a baiile disposed in spaced relation tothe upper edge of said shell, a series of nozzles for liquid fueldisposed adjacent the upper edge of said shell and adapted to dischargesaid liquid fuel into the grooved upper edge of said shell and againstthe inclined upper portion thereof, and a draft conduit spaced from saidshell to avoid a cooling effect of the draft thereon,

6. A liquid fuel burner comprisinga base shell, a battle positioned inspaced relation to the upper ed e of said shell, a series of nozzles forliquic fuel disposed adjacent the upper edge of said shell, a draftconduit spaceu inwardly of said shell to provide a hollow chamberadjacent the upper edge of the inclined portion of said shell, and apackingof insulating material within said hollow chamber to avoid acooling effect of the draft thereon.

7. A liquid fuel burner comprising a base having a flat outer portionand an inclined annular shell positioned centrally thereof, a bafflepositioned in spaced relation to the upper edge of said shell, a seriesof nozzles for liquid fuel disposed adjacent the upper ed e of saidshell, a draft conduit spaced from said shell to avoid all coolingelfect of the draft thereon, a shallow channelway surrounding the baseportion of said burner, and a packing of insulating material within saidchannelway.

8. A liquid fuel burner comprising a base having a flat outer portionand an inclined annular shell positioned centrally thereof, a battlepositioned in spaced relation to the upper edge of said shell, a seriesof nozzles for liquid fuel disposed adjacent the upper edge of saidshell, a draft conduit spaced from said shell to avoid all coolingeffect of the draft thereon, a shallow channelway surrounding the baseportion'of said burner, a packing of insulating material within suchchannelway, a circumferential groove, and an outlet connected With saidcircumferential groove.

Signed by me, this 18th day of March, 1925. 7 1 LIVINGSTON L. LEAVELL.

